The NSW Swifts and Magpies have played out a 42-all thriller in both Clubs’ second game of the Team Girls Cup on the Gold Coast this morning.
A Super Shot on the buzzer by cool customer Sophie Fawns ensured the Swifts remain unbeaten at the Suncorp Super Netball pre-season tournament after they beat West Coast Fever yesterday.
The Swifts once again rotated heavily during the game with Training Partners and QBE Swifts Academy members getting a lot of game time.
The Swifts will back up later this evening to play the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Game III of their campaign.
The Swifts opened with a changed line-up which included Training Partners Lili Gorman-Brown (WA) and Kelea Iongi (GD), while Maddy Turner was the starting goal keeper.
Collingwood got off to a flying start, racing out to a six-goal lead but a Super Shot masterclass by Helen Housby, who shot four of them, put the Swifts 14-13 ahead at the first break.
The Magpies were again fastest out of the blocks at the start of Q2 to reclaim the lead by three goals as former Swift Kelly Singleton and Jamaican international Shimona Nelson connected well.
However, good midcourt pressure from Allie Smith and Maddy Proud resulted in turnovers to keep the Swifts on level terms.
The second Power Five of the game was controlled better by Collingwood who took full advantage of a missed Super Shot attempt by Fawns to wrestle control of the game, but another two-pointer by Housby on the buzzer ensured it would only be a three-goal deficit at halftime.
Sarah Klau and Dakota Thomas were introduced in the second half and when Housby took a tumble she was replaced by QBE Swifts Academy shooter Ali Miller.
Heading into the third Super Shot period the Swifts were back on level terms, but despite NSW winning a scrappy quarter 8-7 the Pies still led by two at the final break.
The depth of the Swifts was impressive as they went toe-to-toe with some of the Magpies’ best, and the gap was only three heading into the last three minutes of play.
The end of the game was a mad scramble and when Klau took a fine intercept in the final minute it allowed the Swifts move up court and put Fawns in position. From there she didn’t miss.
NSW SWIFTS (Players Used)
Starting 7 | GS Sophie Fawns, GA Helen Housby, WA Lili Gorman-Brown, C Maddy Proud, WD Allie Smith, GD Kelea Iongi, GK Maddy Turner
Second half 7 | GS Sophie Fawns/Ali Miller, GA Sophie Fawns/Helen Housby, WA Lili Gorman-Brown, C Tayla Fraser, WD Dakota Thomas, GD Sarah Klau/Maddy Turner, GK Kelea Iongi/Sarah Klau.
Q1 | Swifts 14 Pies 13
Q2 | Swifts 25 Pies 28 (11-15)
Q3 | Swifts 33 Pies 35 (8-7)
Q4 | Swifts 42 Pies 42 (9-7)
